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Study shows massive impact of auto industry

TORONTO, Sept. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - As it prepares to announce the target company for its current round of bargaining with the Detroit Three automakers, Unifor is releasing a new independent study that shows the massive economic impact of the automakers in Canada.

"Unifor has made investment in Canada the top priority of these negotiations, and this study shows how important investment is to the economic wellbeing of the entire country," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

The study by Robin Somerville, Director of the Centre for Spatial Economics and President of Quantitative Economic Decisions Inc., assesses the economic benefits of the automakers by examining what would happen if they were to leave Canada.

In the short term, the study found that Canada's gross domestic product would fall by up to $26 billion, with a loss of up to 150,000 jobs and a decline in government revenues of up to $4.7 billion per year. Longer term, Ontario's economy would be permanently reduced by up to $21 billion and 38,000 jobs, with government revenues permanently cut by up to $3.9 billion per year.

"It's important that the broader public and policy makers understand what's at stake," said Dias.

To read the full report and for further background information, go to Unifor.org/autotalks16. The report comes just days before Unifor holds a media conference to announce which of the Detroit Three automakers – Fiat Chrysler, Ford or General Motors – will be its target company to set the bargaining pattern for the industry.

With pattern bargaining, negotiations focus on one company to reach an agreement that will set the pattern for the industry. Once an agreement with the target is ratified, focus shifts to a second company, and then the third. Unifor autoworkers have voted overwhelmingly to give their bargaining committees authorization to call a strike if needed. Unifor's contract with the Detroit Three expires September 19.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers, including more than 23,000 at the Detroit Three. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged.

SOURCE Unifor

For further information: please contact Unifor Communications National Director Denise Hammond at Denise Hammond@Unifor.org or (cell) 416-937-1126, or Unifor Communications National Representative Stuart Laidlaw at Stuart.Laidlaw@Unifor.org or (cell) 647-385-4054